India vs England 4th Test: Can Root find form or will Bumrah shine again? 5 things to look forward to on Day 3

Cheteshwar Pujara rescued India on Friday as the visitors posted 273 all-out in their first innings in the fourth Test against England. The right-hander's splendid knock of 132 not-out bailed India out of a deep hole - 195 for 8 - at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Having posted 246 batting first, England went to stumps on Day 2 at six for no loss after conceding a first-innings lead of 27 runs. The contest is tantalising poised as we head into the 'moving day' of the Test match.

Here are five things to look forward to Day 3 of the fourth Test between India and England:

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England's batting woes of late have been largely due to their openers' struggles. In the first three Tests in this series, veteran Alastair Cook has managed 80 runs in five innings while Keaton Jennings has made 94 runs in the same number of outings. These are poor numbers by any standards. A team needs its opening combination to contribute in order to win Test matches. Now would be just the right time for Cook and Jennings to stand up.

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Since the South Africa tour at the start of the year, the Indian fast-bowlers have been the backbone of the team. Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami have compelled many to suggest that this is the finest pace attack India has ever had. In this series, where the batting unit has disappointed for the large part, it's the pacers who've kept India in the game. Bumrah bowled an inspired spell to wreck havoc in the English batting in the last innings of the previous Test and in the first innings in Southampton. If India are to level the series, it is imperative for Ishant, Shami and Bumrah to fire again on Saturday.

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Virat Kohli has amassed 486 runs in seven innings so far in the series. He's India's best batsman, their captain, and he has ensured he leads from the front. The same can hardly be said about his counterpart. Joe Root got an 80 in his first innings of the series, but has since managed just 66 runs in five knocks. There's absolutely no doubt that Root is a class player, however, he's also built an infamous reputation of being a 'half-century batsman'. The right-hander owes his team a daddy hundred, and Saturday provides the perfect occasion for it.

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India nailed the perfect team combination in the third Test after failing to do so in the first two. As it turns out, though, the visitors might have erred again in Southampton. England have gone in with two spinners in this match, with Moeen Ali picking up a richly-deserved five-for in his comeback Test. India, on the other hand, only have Ravichandran Ashwin in their ranks. Ali's spell on Friday clearly showed how much assistance there is in the wicket for spinners. On a Day 3 wicket, much will be expected of Ashwin.

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He did it in the first Test, he did again in Southampton. Sam Curran is making a habit of playing heroic, rescue knocks for his country. The 20-year-old scored a match-winning, quick-fire 63 at Edgbaston, and replicated that performance with a 78 in the first innings here. He relishes batting with the tail and is proving to be a massive thorn for India in this series. If Virat Kohli's men manage to wipe out the English top-order again, they must ensure Curran and the tail don't get stuck in. England went from 86 for 6 to 246 in the first innings. A similar escape from them on Saturday could mean India kissing the series goodbye.

(Image: AFP)

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